You can never have enough flowering and frugal plants. We show how coneflowers are propagated using cuttings and the like.

Even inexperienced gardeners can reproduce coneflowers

The Coneflower (Echinacea) is an ideal garden perennial because it is easy to care for and its flowers add value to any bed. It is also good for novice gardeners who have yet to gain experience.

In the following, we will clarify how you can optimally propagate your coneflower, because there are very different methods of propagation. Every gardener has their own preferred methods - we show you what cuttings, division and seeds of coneflowers are all about.

Propagating coneflowers by cuttings

For propagation with cuttings, use echinacea stems that do not have flowers and have at least three pairs of leaves. These stems are cut off with sharp and clean pruning shears and planted about three centimeters deep in the potting soil. For example, you can use the peat-free Plantura organic herb and seed soil. Then the cuttings are watered properly and the growing soil is kept moist throughout.

Cuttings are best planted in late summer. After about six weeks, enough roots should have formed to place them in flower pots. There the coneflowers are allowed to grow for a week before the shoot tips are cut off for the winter. Move the pots containing the cuttings to a cool but frost-free spot, being careful not to let the seedlings dry out. In spring, after the last frosts, you can put the coneflowers outdoors.

To grow cuttings you should use potting soil and keep the soil moist

Propagating coneflowers by dividing

If you already have a coneflower in your garden, you can easily propagate it by dividing it. In principle, coneflowers reproduce themselves and spread well. You will notice that the coneflower perennials need more and more space in the garden and the stock is getting wider and wider, because the coneflower can spread well with its secondary roots. For a sun hat on oneplant in a different location, you can simply divide the original plant. All you need is a digging fork, a spade, and a knife.

Instructions to multiply coneflowers by dividing:

  • The right time for division is autumn after flowering
  • Gently dig up the coneflower you want to share with the digging fork
  • You can also simply divide the roots by hand for young coneflowers whose roots are not very thick yet
  • Part older coneflower sticks with either a spade or a sharp knife
  • Plant the separated coneflower in a new sunny spot that you have previously cleared of weeds
  • When replanting, you should keep a distance of about 40 centimeters between the plants

Tip: The division should be made about every three years, as this promotes vigorous growth and beautiful flowering.

Propagating coneflowers by sowing

While coneflower seeds are commercially available, we want to show you how you can easily collect the seeds yourself from an existing plant in your garden. You will also learn how best to proceed with sowing.

Propagate coneflowers by sowing: get seeds yourself

The coneflower will produce its own seeds if you let the flowers mature. But don't let all the flowers mature, because that would cost the plant too much energy. Simply cut off excess flowers. You can recognize a mature plant in late summer or autumn when the seed heads have dried out and turned brown. Inside are the seeds that can be carefully harvested. Ideally, the harvest takes place on sunny and dry days.

The flowers dry up and prickly seed heads appear

You simply cut off the dried stalks with the seeds and place them upside down in an old pillowcase or paper bag. Then either let the seeds dry in the bags in a well-ventilated place for two to three weeks, or shake the seeds out of the seed heads immediately and let them dry on a tray.

Place the seeds in a dry, cool and dark place for storage, preferably away from air. Simple screw-top jars are suitable for this, but you can also pack the seeds in small bags and store them that way. Don't forget to label the containers to help you in the springstill know which seed it is. Seed harvesting is a space-saving way to propagate plants and is also great for sharing seeds with gardener friends.

Propagating coneflowers by sowing: Instructions

When sowing, you should consider that coneflowers are subject to germination inhibition, because they germinate cold and need exposure to cold for up to eight weeks to germinate. Therefore, sow coneflowers in small boxes that you take to a sheltered spot outdoors so that the seeds are exposed to the cold - temperatures below 5 °C are best there. An alternative to this is the freezer, because you can also artificially simulate the effects of cold and put the seeds in there.

If you propagate a hybrid coneflower by seed, you have to reckon with the fact that the new coneflowers will differ greatly in appearance from the mother plant, but this will also bring an exciting variety of species to your own garden. If you want to be sure of having the same coneflowers in your garden again, consider propagation by division or cuttings.

Summary Propagating coneflowers by seed:

  • In late summer or autumn you can cut off the dried stalks of the coneflower on sunny, dry days
  • Put the stalks with the seeds in an old pillowcase or paper bag and let them dry in a well ventilated place; alternatively, you can take out the seeds and let them dry individually
  • The dried seeds are stored in a dry, cool and dark place
  • The seeds need up to eight weeks of cold exposure to germinate; this can either be done outside or in the freezer
  • When the seed of hybrid plants is harvested, the regrowing plant can differ greatly from the mother plant

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Garden Design